Check protector



R. H. WALLER CHECK PROTECTOR May 6, 1952 Filed Dec. 16, 1948 y 8 m m 1 m w Wu z WW H v: b3 o R \\J8 2? n \H a +5 5. 6 1 w Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Robert H. Waller, Nashville, Tenn. Application Decembcr 16, 1948, Serial No. 65,637

This invention relates to a check protector and it is an object of the invention to provide'a device of this kind including a stripper element and a rotatable punching element assembled in amanner to permit a check to be inserted therebetween together with means for exerting pressure on one of said elements to cause the punch element to impinge the portion of the check between the elements.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which can be conveniently mounted upon a pen or other writing implement and which may also be employed separate from such implement.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved check protector whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating a check protector embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the structure as shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 but showing parts in a second position.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I denotes the cap for a fountain pen or the like which is provided at its outer closed end with a socket la in which is detachably engaged, as by threading, an extremity of a cylindrical barrel 2 open at its outer end. The outer or open end portion of the barrel 2 to one side of its axial center is provided in its wall with the opposed slots 3 open at their outer ends to receive therein a marginal portion of the check C.

The portion 4 of. the wall of the barrel 2 between slots 3 constitutes what may be termed a stripper plate. The wall of the barrel 2 at a point opposed to the outer end of the stripper plate 4 is provided with an opening 5 through which extends from within a pusher pin 6 to be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

Freely insertable within the barrel 2 are the overlying elongated members or arms I and 8 herein disclosed as integrally connected at their inner inserted extremities.

These members or arms I and 8 are initially in divergence from their connected extremities 1 claim. (01. 101-24) but when placed within the barrel 2 are compressed so that normally the member or arm I will have close contact with the stripper plate 4 and the second member or arm 8 will have close contact with the portion of the wall of the barrel -2 opposed to said stripper plate 4.

. I The outer or free portion of the member or arm I is provided therealong with longitudinally but closely spaced slots 9 extending transversely of the member or arm I and through which travel and project the outstanding impinging teeth II) of the punching element E. These teeth ID are arranged in annular concentric series spaced apart lengthwise of the shaft ll of the element E, said series being of a number the same as the slots 9 of the member or arm I.

The outer or free end portion of the arm or member 8 is outwardly offset to provide opposed shoulders I2 spaced apart a required distance to provide bearings for the opposite end portions of the core or shaft I I of the punch element E. The base or intermediate portion M of the offset is provided in its outer face with a pocket I5 in which is received the head I6 at the inner end of the pin 6. It will be noted that the pin 6 provides means for holding the arms 'I and 8 in applied position within the barrel 2 in addition to serving as the means to allow manual forcing of the arm 8 toward the arm I to cause the teeth I0 to impinge the portion of the check inserted between the stripper plate 4.

As the device is drawn along the check or as the check is drawn through the device, the rotatable element E will effect the desired punching of the check. It is to be particularly pointed out that only a single punching element is employed and therefore, the face of the check opposed to the element E will remain substantially smooth.

Removably engaged with the outer or open end portion of the barrel 2, is a plug cap W. This cap is of such cross sectional configuration as to close only the larger portion of the end of the barrel 2 to one side of the slots 3. The plug cap H provides a flat face [8, which upon proper application of the plug cap I1, is substantially coplanar with the outer edges of the slots 3. p

The stripper plate 4 is of a cross sectional configuration wherein the inner face I9 is fiat and flush with the outer margins of the side slots 3. When the device is in use the check C passes between this flat face I9 and the arm It This flat face I9 is provided with the grooves 20 which register with the slots 9 of the member or arm I to assure the effective punching action of the V teeth I 0.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a check protector constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

A check protector comprising a barrel having one end open, the Wall of the barrel having longitudinal circumferentially spaced slots disposed in a chord defining plane and open at the open end of the barrel, the inner surface of the barrel remote from the longitudinal center thereof being flat and in the plane of the adjacent edges of the slots, a pair of elongate, relatively wide resilient arms disposed longitudinally in spaced parallel relationrin the barrel and joined by a transverse part at the ends remote from the open end of the barrel, one of said arms having its top surface in the plane of the edges of the slots which are remote from the plane of the first named edges, the outer end portion of said one arm having a longitudinally disposed series of transverse slots in register with alike series of slots formed in the said flat surface of the barrel, a member rotatably mounted on the outer end portion of said other arm with the axis of rotation disposed lengthwise of the arm, a circular series of punching teeth extending radially of said member, the top surface of said one arm and the said inner surface of the barrel forming a receiving space for a marginal portion of a check inserted into said'slots, said arms being secured in the barrel at the said joined ends thereof, and a finger pin carried by and upon the undersid of said other arm and extending through an opening in the wall of the barrel to the outside of the barrel for facilitating the flexing of said other arm in a direction to cause said teeth to extend through the slots in said one arm.

ROBERT H. WALLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

